STEP UP! Frederick Student Songwriting Contest

Chords of Courage presents the inaugural STEP UP Frederick! Student Songwriting Contest in Frederick County, Maryland. Using songwriting as a catalyst for social change, the contest encourages middle and high school age students to write compelling songs about people of particular courage. At the Awards Concert, Friday evening April 6 at Frederick Community College’s JBK Theater, winning students will encourage the audience to join them in acts of STEPPING UP! to make a difference in their community inspired by their courageous song subjects. Is a great way to empower teens to be active members of their community and an incredibly profound experience for everyone.

The deadline for song submissions is Friday, March 2 at 11:59pm. Prizes include cash, recording studio time, YMCA summer memberships and more. FCPS strongly encourages student participation to complement growth and endeavors.

To provide support to interested students, Chords of Courage and the Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise, F.A.M.E., are offering free songwriting sessions Saturday mornings February 10 and 24 from 10:00am-1:00pm at New Spire Arts.

A Chords of Courage student songwriting workshop participant said, “I really like what we did with Chords of Courage because it was something special. (When writing with others) we had to work with a group, to work together and listen to each other, to find out what we really wanted to say. And we made a really great song about a man who made a difference. And I like how I got to do this with one of my closest friends and I feel like we made a difference”.

“With the Delaplaine and Ausherman Family Foundations as sponsors, and organizations like F.A.M.E., SHIP, the Boys & Girls Club, and the YMCA as partners, this is truly a Frederick County project,” says Chords of Courage Founder and CEO Caron Dale. Chords of Courage is the non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization, who is presenting this opportunity to Frederick County middle and high school age students. Chords of Courage believes strongly that songwriting promotes civil discourse and reinforces the belief in the power of one song and songwriter to make a real difference.

Words by Chords of Courage.